Linkety-Linkety
The problem of making sex work a sexual offense. -- They explain much better than I would, because this one hits multiple rant points for me; sex work being illegal at all, sex work that is currently illegal being unreasonably punished, and sex offender status being used for anything consensual (this has screwed a lot of queerfolk, too).
MANSFIELD -- Authorities are considering assault charges against a pregnant 20-year-old who swallowed half a bottle of aspirin Thursday in an apparent attempt to kill her unborn child. -- I don't know what happened with this, or how far along the fetus was. I do know shit like this doesn't happen when women have better options. We're hearing more and more about dangerous and scary home abortion attempts these days. There are reasons for that, and they're not because women like poisoning and injuring themselves, and risking death.
Don't figure you're all set just because you plan to carry to term, though. Samantha Burton was in her 25th week of pregnancy in March 2009 when she started showing signs of miscarrying. Her doctor advised her to go on bed rest, possibly for as long as 15 weeks, but she told him that she had two toddlers to care for and a job to keep. She planned on getting a second opinion, but the doctor alerted the state, which then asked the Circuit Court of Leon County to step in.
She was ordered to stay in bed at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and to undergo “any and all medical treatments” her doctor, acting in the interests of the fetus, decided were necessary. Burton asked to switch hospitals and the request was denied by the court, which said “such a change is not in the child’s best interest at this time.” After three days of hospitalization, she had to undergo an emergency C-section and the fetus was found dead. -- right along the same lines as court-ordered c-sections and other medical interventions against a women's wishes (which have, in at least one case, killed the woman in question). *shudder* This stuff freaks the shit out of me, to be honest.
And on a different topic, I've been going back and forth about saying anything about Haiti. I can't imagine I wouldn't be preaching to the choir, and I don't think I have any additional directions for support that aren't already well-publicized. Still, I feel a general need to acknowledge how tragic and horrifying the whole situation is.
MANSFIELD -- Authorities are considering assault charges against a pregnant 20-year-old who swallowed half a bottle of aspirin Thursday in an apparent attempt to kill her unborn child. -- I don't know what happened with this, or how far along the fetus was. I do know shit like this doesn't happen when women have better options. We're hearing more and more about dangerous and scary home abortion attempts these days. There are reasons for that, and they're not because women like poisoning and injuring themselves, and risking death.
Don't figure you're all set just because you plan to carry to term, though. Samantha Burton was in her 25th week of pregnancy in March 2009 when she started showing signs of miscarrying. Her doctor advised her to go on bed rest, possibly for as long as 15 weeks, but she told him that she had two toddlers to care for and a job to keep. She planned on getting a second opinion, but the doctor alerted the state, which then asked the Circuit Court of Leon County to step in.
She was ordered to stay in bed at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and to undergo “any and all medical treatments” her doctor, acting in the interests of the fetus, decided were necessary. Burton asked to switch hospitals and the request was denied by the court, which said “such a change is not in the child’s best interest at this time.” After three days of hospitalization, she had to undergo an emergency C-section and the fetus was found dead. -- right along the same lines as court-ordered c-sections and other medical interventions against a women's wishes (which have, in at least one case, killed the woman in question). *shudder* This stuff freaks the shit out of me, to be honest.
And on a different topic, I've been going back and forth about saying anything about Haiti. I can't imagine I wouldn't be preaching to the choir, and I don't think I have any additional directions for support that aren't already well-publicized. Still, I feel a general need to acknowledge how tragic and horrifying the whole situation is.